Apparatus for handling rod-like articles

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a tray unloader for cigarettes in which each tray in turn is inverted to discharge the cigarettes downwards onto a conveyor system. The conveyor system carries the cigarettes to a reservoir and stops while the trays are being changed, but cigarettes can be withdrawn continuously from the reservoir. A control plate rests on the surface of the cigarettes to keep the surface level while the cigarettes move downwards through the tray as it is unloaded.

Unite States Patent 1 Rowiands et a1.

A?PARATUS FOR HANDLING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES Inventors: Tom Rowlands; James George Edward Hillman, both of London, England Molins Machine Company Limited, London, England Filed: Nov. 23, 1970 Appl. No.: 91,769

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Date Nov. 26, 1969 Great Britain 57,743/69 US. Cl. 214/302, 214/16 B, 214/310 Int. Cl. 365g 65/34 Field of Search 214/302, 307, 310;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1967 Seragnoli 214/6 BA [4 1 Sept. 18, 1973 3,332,560 7/1967 Niepmann 214/307 3,596,787 8/1971 Rowlands et a1. 214/307 744,357 11/1903 King 221/279 2,681,160 6/1954 Molins et a1... 214/302 3,486,647 12/1969 Seragnoli 214/307 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney-Emory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT This invention concerns a tray unlioader for cigarettes in which each tray in turn is inverted to discharge the cigarettes downwards onto a conveyor system. The conveyor system carries the cigarettes to a reservoir and stops while the trays are being changed, but cigarettes can be withdrawn continuously from the reservoir. A control plate rests on the surface of the cigarettes to keep the surface level while the cigarettes move downwards through the tray as it is unloaded.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing; Figures PATENTEDSEPY 8m 3,759,408

SHEET 3 [1F 7 PATENTEDSEP18I9T5 SHEET 5 BF 7 PATENTED 8 I975 3, 759 ,408

SHEET? or 7 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES This invention concerns in particular unloading cigarettes and other similar rod-like articles from trays, for example in order to feed cigarettes into cigarette packing machines.

A method and apparatus for unloading trays of cigarettes is described in US. Pat. No. 3,595,413. With that apparatus the tray to be unloaded is received in an upright position and inverted to an upside-down position, so allowing cigarettes in the tray to pass through the open top of the tray. A substantially horizontal platform supports each batch of cigarettes as it moves down out of its tray and also constrains the top surface of the preceding batch so as to maintain it level. According to the aforementioned specification the cigarettes are fed substantially continuously from the hopper.

U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 863,271 describes apparatus which is a modification of that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3595413. According to this modification the cigarettes are fed from the hopper to a reservoir. A continuous stream of cigarettes is withdrawn from this reservoir, but the supply of cigarettes from the hopper to the reservoir is discontinued during each period while a new tray-load of cigarettes is being prepared for discharge through the hopper.

The present invention is concerned with a modified arrangement for handling the trays and for unloading the cigarettes from the trays and feeding them to a packing machine.

According to one aspect of this invention, apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, comprises means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes; means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays: and a control plate which is arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level.

Preferably the apparatus includes means for stopping the conveyor system while each empty tray is being replaced by a full tray and the conveyor system carries the cigarettes from the trays to a reservoir which has an outlet through which cigarettes are discharged from the reservoir. Conveniently the reservoir is mounted above a cigarette packing machine and the outlet from the reservoir leads down into the hopper of the packing machine. 7

The control plate preferably has at each of its ends a switch which is operated whenthe corresponding end of the plate moves upwards relative to a support member which carries the plate downwards through the tray, the switches being included in a circuit controlling a drive by means of which the member carrying the plate is driven downwards through the tray except when both switches are operated.

Preferably the control plate is flexible and is carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arm when the arm swings upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position.

Conveniently the support member carrying the plate it itself carried by an upright support along which it can move and which is pivoted about a horizontal axis to enable the control plate to be moved into and out of a tray.

According to another aspect of this invention, apparatus for unloading cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles from trays includes a tray carrier which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and is arranged to perform successive cycles in each of which it picks up an upright full tray from a loading position, rotates about the horizontal axis in one direction to place the full tray in an inverted position over a discharging zone, then, when the tray is empty, rotates about the horizontal axis in the opposite direction to place the empty tray upright in an unloading position, and then picks up the next full tray from the loading position to repeat the cycle, the loading and unloading positions being one behind the other. Conveniently the unloading position is immediately behind the loading position.

Preferably the apparatus includes a receiving means for full trays adapted to store a number of full trays one behind the other: lifting means to move full trays in suc cession from the receiving means to the loading position for the tray carrier; removal means for empty trays situated below the receiving means; and means to transfer empty trays downwards from the unloading position to the removal means.

Apparatus according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the ac companying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in outline various successive positions in the path of a tray in a tray unloader according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of part of such a tray unloader;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line III--lII of FIG. 2 showing various features ingreater detail and omitting some features;

FIG. 4 is a plan view in greater detail of the part of FIG. 2 indicated by arrow IV;

FIG. 5 is a front view of part of a slightly modified tray unloader;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing details of the supporting and switching apparatus associated with the control plate;

FIG. 7 is a side view, partly in section, of the apparatus for moving the trays into the unloading position;

FIG. 8 is a view looking in the direction of arrow VIII in FIG. 7 of a gripper of FIG. 2; and 1 I FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary side views on an enforming part of the tray unloader larged scale of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5,

viewed in the direction of the arrow A.

FIG.-1=shows in outline eight successive positions a to h in the path of a tray 1 in the tray unloader The arrows indicate generally the paths followed by the centres of the trays. A full tray is received upright at a receiving position a and is carried to a pick-up position b. From position b the tray is lifted bodily to a loading position c from which it is rotated in a clockwise direction (see arrow 3) about an axis 2 to an inverted position d above a discharging zone at which the'cigarettes are emptied downwards cigarettes falling out of the tray while it is being inverted, a plate 4 covers the top of the tray until it is at position d. Two positions of the plate 4 are shown in FIG. 1: 4a and 4b. In position 4a the plate covers the top of the tray in position c which is about to beinfrom the tray. To, prevent the verted, whereas in position 4b the plate is in its inoperative position having been withdrawn from the tray, allowing cigarettes to pass through the open top of the inverted tray in position d. When the tray in position d is empty it is rotated about the axis 2, as shown by the dotted arrow 5, to an upright unloading position e immediately behind the position for a full tray, but inclined backwards from it. From this position the empty tray can tip backwards to position f (shown dotted for clarity). From the position f the tray is lowered bodily through position g to a removal position h.

Referring now to FIG. 2, full trays 1 are received on the tray unloader at a and are carried by a conveyor band to the pick-up position b. From b a tray is lifted by means of hooks 11 on a chain conveyor 12 to position 0 shown chain dotted in FIG. 2. At c the tray is gripped by jaws 13A on a tray carrier 13 which is rotatably mounted on a spindle 50 with an axis 2 so that can becarried to the inverted position d (see also FIG. 7). When the tray shown in position d is empty, it is rotated back about the axis 2 by the tray carrier 13 to the position e shown by chain dotted lines in FIG. 7. The tray tips from position e to position f (FIG. 2), using pins 17 carried by hinged plates 18 as pivots. In this position the tray rests on hooks l4 fastened to a chain conveyor which carries the tray from f to position h shown chain-dotted in FIG. 2. The empty trays are carried away from position h by a band conveyor 16.

A more detailed description will now be given of the apparatus for carrying out the motion of the trays outlined above.

Referring first to F IG. 2, the machine has a horizontal base 20 on which is mounted a main supporting framework 21. Cantilevered from the framework 21 isa platform 22 which carries the conveyor 10 on which the full trays are fed to the machine. The platform 22 is inclined at approximately 7% to the horizontal to ensure that the cigarettes do not fall out of the trays. The conveyor 10 passes round rollers 25 and 26 mounted on shafts carried by the platform 22. The roller 25 is an idler roller and the roller 26 is driven continuously clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 2). A claw 30 (see also FIG. 4) separates the tray in the pick-up position b from-the other trays on the conveyor 10. The conveyor 10.slips under the trays while the trays are stationary.

There are two claws 30,.one to engage each 'side of a .tray. Each claw 30 is pivoted-about a shaft 31 (FIG. 4 on which it is held between two collars 33 and 34 (FIG. 3). The claw'is biased towards the closed position (i.e. the position shown in full in FIG. 4), by a compression spring32 which is carried in the claw 30 and acts against a projection from the collar 33. 34 is an adjust able stop. The collar 33 has a bracket 35 projecting from it and this carries a pin on which a cam 36 is rotatably mounted. The cam 36 acts against a cam follower 37 rotatably mounted in the body of the claw 30, as

shown in FIG. 4. The claw operates as follows: When a tray has been carried to position 0 on the hooks 11 (FIG. 2) and has been picked up by the jaws 13, the chain conveyor 12 travels back down again to the bottom position ready to' receive another tray in position b. Asthe hook 11 travels down it strikes the cam 36, thus causing the claw 30 to move to an open position shown dotted in FIG. 4. A tray in position shown as a in FIGS. 2 and 4 can thus be carried by the bands 10 between the ends of the open claws 30. When the hooks 11 have moved past the cam 36 the claws 30 are influence of a urged back towards their closed position by the compression spring 32. However, the ends of the claws can only move in to the width of the tray passing between them and so rest gently against the sides of that tray. As soon as the tray has passed between the claws 30 they move completely into their closed position and so hold the next tray in position a. The relative speeds of the bands 10 and the chain 12 are such that the hooks 11 are at their lower position, shown in full lines in FIG. 2, without fouling the tray moving into position b.

Each chain 12 (to which a hook 11 is fastened) passes round an idler sprocket 40 and a drive sprocket 41 driven by a chain drive 42. The chain 12 can move to move the hook 11 between the lower position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and the upper position shown chain-dotted.

The framework 21 carries the shaft on which the tray carrier 13 is rotatably mounted (see also FIGS. 7 and 8). The carrier 13 is arranged to be rotatable between the three positions shown, namely: the loading position shown in FIG. 2, the inverted position shown in full lines in FIG. 7, and the unloading position outlined in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 7. The shaft50, and therefore the carrier 13, is driven by a pinion 51 (shown in outline in FIG. 2) mounted on the shaft and engaged by a rack (not shown) which is reciprocated by a jack (also not shown).

The plate 4 is carried by slides 52 in the carrier 13 (FIG. 7) the slides being arranged to bejslidable between the two positions 411 and 4b shown schematically in FIG. 1. The slide 52 has a striking end 54 for cooperation with a striker 55. In FIG. 7 the plate corresponds to position 4b inrelation to the tray in position d and to the position 4a in relation to the tray in position e. As the carrier 13 approaches the release position the slide 52 is pushed in the direction of arrow 56 by the striker 55, thus moving the plate 4 into position 4a in readiness for the grippers 13A to pick up the next tray from position 0. The slide 52 is held in this position corresponding to 4a by a detent. This detent comprises a notched plate 57 arranged to engage a pin 58. As the carrier approaches its inverted position, the plate 56 is urged upwards by an adjustable pin59, thus releasing the detent and allowing the slide 52 to move under the spring 60 into the position corresponding to 4b. l

The grippers 13A each comprise fingers 61. and 62 mounted on an arm 63 (FIGS. 7 and 8) and arranged to engage respectively the front and the back of a tray. The fingers 61- and 62 are shown as separate members off-set from each other, but they could, of course, be two members in line with each other or one complete unit. The tray is prevented from vertical movement relative to the grippers by the arm 63 being profiled to engage the projections 64 on the sides of the trays. For example the arm 63 may have tapered sections to engage beneath the top lug 64 and above another of the lugs.

As the carrier 13 swings down to the unloading position carrying an empty tray, a lever 66 hits a striking pin 67, causing the arm 63 to swing outwards and release the empty tray. The movement of. the lever 66 also causes a pin 68 to move to the right as viewed in FIG. 8 to the position as shown in that figure and in FIG. 7 in relationto the carrier in the lower position.

This allows members 69 and 70 also to move under-the influence of a spring 71-into the position'shown dotted in FIG. 7, thus holding the pin 68 in position and so locking the arm 63 in its outward position.

When a full tray is correctly in position between the arms 63 (FIG. 2), a bracket 72 on the chain conveyor 12 strikes the member 70. This releases the pin 68 and allows the arms 63 to move inwards under the influence of a spring 73 and thus grip the full tray. These relative positions of the pin 60 and the members 69 and 70 are shown in conjunction with the view of the gripper 13 shown in full-lines in FIG. 7.

The discharging of cigarettes from an inverted tray will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 9 and 10.

The tray 1 with cigarettes 100 in it is inverted over a discharging zone 101 into which the cigarettes may pass through the open top of the inverted tray. The cigarettes are fed from the zone 101 to the left in FIG. 5 to a variable volume reservoir, generally designated 102, which is positioned directly over a hopper 103 designed to supply a plurality of streams of cigarettes to a packing machine (not shown). The reservoir 102 is substantially as is described in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 863 271 and consists essentially of two hinged sets of interlaced fingers 104 and 105 which can ride up and down on top of the cigarettes in the reservoir and so provide a greater or lesser reserve of cigarettes. The cigarettes are fed from the zone 101 to the reservoir 102 by a system of conveyors which is also substantially as described and claimed in Ser. No. 863271 mentioned above. Two bands 106 and 107 feed the cigarettes from the zone 101; the band 106 is slower than the band 107 to assist the orderly removal of the cigarettes. A corner plate 108 is also provided, but this may be omitted. A further moving band 109 engages the top of the stream of cigarettes carried by the band 107 to the reservoir 102, A band 110 runs continuously to assist in the removal of the cigarettes from the reservoir 102.

A switch 111 is actuated by the fingers 104 when the reservoir is full and stops the bands 106, 107 and 110. Another switch 112 is operated when the fingers 104 reach the lowest permissible level and this stops the packing machine.

The bands 106, 107 and 110 also stop while an empty tray is being removed and a full one being placed in position over the discharging zone.

As the cigarettes are fed from each tray a control plate 113 rests on the surface of the cigarettes in the tray to maintain that surface sub stantially level. FIG. shows the plate 113 resting on the batch of cigarettes 100, whereas FIG. 9 shows the plate in the position it occupies while an empty tray is being removed and a full one substituted. FIG. 6 shows a preferred way of mounting the plate and its associated switches.

' The plate 113 is light and flexible and is carried on a support member having horizontally extending arms 114. The arms are each carried on an axle 115 and biased by a spring 116 so as to tendv to press the control plate 113 lightly down on the cigarettes. A pin 117 on each arm acutates a microswitch 118 when the arm swings sufficiently upwards about its axle. The switch is "made in the position shown in FIG. 6 and is broken" when the plate 113 moves up due to reaction from the cigarettes. As the plate 113 is able to twist, the two switches 118 both can be operated independently.

A limit switch (not shown) is operated when the control plate reaches a position corresponding to the tray being empty, and this starts the changeover of the trays.

FIG. 5 shows the support member supported by two screw jacks 150 which cooperate with nut members 151 in the support member (FIG. 10). The support member may however be carried by a slide at each side and a single screw in the centre. The support member is driven down by means of the screws 150 so that the plate 113 follows the surface of the cigarettes as the tray is discharged. The screws are driven by a motor 152 (FIG. 2). The support member will continue to be driven down so long as either, or both, of the switches 118 is made, but is not driven if both switches are broken. That is to say, if either end of the plate 113 is not sufficiently supported by cigarettes, the plate is driven down to maintain the surface of the cigarettes substantially level; whenever, however, both ends of the plate 113 are lifted by the cigarettes so that both switches 118 are broken, the downward drive of the plate stops. As soon as the level of the cigarettes has dropped sufficiently for either end of the plate 113 to be unsupported, the associated switch 118 will be made again and the plate 113 is driven down to follow the cigarettes and to apply light pressure through the spring 116 on the side of the surface of the cigarettes which lies high.

A framework which carries the supports for the support member and the motor 152 which drives the plate down is pivoted about an axle 121 on which it is mounted. FIG. 9 shows a slightly differnet arrangement which operates in a similar manner to our preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The framework 120 is in a substantially upright position while a tray is being discharged so that the plate 113 is in the tray and can rest on the cigarettes. While the trays are being changed however, the framework moves outwards slightly to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 so that the plate 113 is no longer in the tray. While the trays are geing changed the support member is moved from its bottom position corresponding to-an empty tray to its top position ready for the plates 113 to be inserted above the cigarettes in the full tray. To facilitate the insertion of the plate 113, the mechanismis timed so that the level of the cigarettes drops two or three rows before the plate is inserted; the mechanism timing being determined by a motion of the conveyors 106, 107, 110, as

indicated by the rotation of one of the supporting pulleys, corresponding to the removal of the desired number of cigarettes.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar r'odlike articles, comprising means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes,

means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays, a control plate which is arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level, and means for stopping the conveyor system while each empty tray is being replaced by a full tray while a column of cigarettes remains thereon thus reducing the falling distance for the cigarettes of the full tray, the conveyor system being arranged to carry the cigarettes from the trays to a reservoir which has an outlet through which cigarettes are discharged from the reservoir.

2. Apparatus according toclaim 1. in which the reservoir is mounted above a cigarette packing machine and in which the outlet from the reservoir leads down into the hopper of the packing machine.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the reservoir includes a sensing device by which the conveyor system is stopped when the volume of cigarettes in the reservoir reaches a predetermined maximum level and by which the packing machine is stopped when the volume of cigarettes in the reservoir reaches a predetermined minimum level.

4. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rodlike articles, comprising means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes, means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays, and a control plate arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level, the control plate having at each end a switch which is operated when the corresponding end of the plate moves upwards relative to a support member which carries the plate downwards through the trays, the switches being included in a circuit controlling a drive by means of which the member carrying the plate is driven downwards through the tray except when both switches are operated.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the support member is driven downwards through the tray by means of one or more screw-threaded members.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the control plate is flexile and is carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arm when the arm swings upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which upward movement of each arm about its pivot is resisted by a spring.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the support member carrying the plate is itself carried by an upright support along which it can move and which is pivoted about a horizontal axis to enable the control plate to be moved into and out of a tray.

9. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rodlike articles, comprising means for inverting successive trays containing batches of cigarettes over a discharge position, conveyor means for carrying cigarettes away from the discharge position, a plate arranged to travel downwards through the tray at the discharge position, means to insert the plate into the inverted tray above the top surface of the batch of cigarettes in a substantially full tray and to remove the plate from a substantially empty tray, sensing means to sense whenever the top surface of the batch departs from a substantially flat and level surface as the cigarettes are carried away by the conveyor means, and driving means responsive to the sensing means for driving the plate through the tray and into contact with the top surface of the batch of cigarettes to restore the top surface of the batch to a flat and horizontal contour.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the plate is carried by a support member, and in which the sensing means comprises a switch at each end of the plate which is operated when the corresponding end of the plate moves upwards relative to the support member, the switches being included in a circuit controlling the driving means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the plate is flexible and is carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arm when the arm springs upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the support member is carried by an upright support along which it can move and which is pivoted about a horizontal axis parallel to the length of the plate to enable the plate to be inserted into and withdrawn from the tray.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the upright support is threaded and cooperates with the support member so that rotation of the upright support in one sense causes the plate to be driven downwards through the tray and rotation in the other sense causes the plate to be driven upwards.

14. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a reservoir towards which the cigarettes are carried by the conveyor means, means for continuously withdrawing cigarettes from the region of the reservoir, and means to stop the conveyor means while a new batch of cigarettes is being brought into position on top of the cigarettes remaining from the previous batch.

15. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rodlike articles, comprising means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes, means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays, towards a reservoir associated with an outlet through which cigarettes are continuously discharged, a control plate which is arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level, means for stopping the conveyor system while each empty tray is being replaced by a full tray while a column of cigarettes remains thereon thus reducing the falling distance for the cigarettes of the full tray, and means for deliverying a continuous flow of cigarettes from the region of the reservoir; the said flow through said outlet being received from the reservoir while the conveyor system is stationary.

16. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rodlike articles, comprising spaced vertical walls for guiding successive batches of cigarettes downwards towards cigarette withdrawal means, and a horizontal control plate extending between the vertical walls for contact-' ing the upper surface of each batch of cigarettes to keep the upper surface substantially flat and horizontal while the batch is moving downwards between the vertical walls, the control plate having at each end a switch which is operated when the corresponding end of the plate moves. upwards relative to a support member which carries the plate downwards between the vertical walls, the switches being included in a circuit controlling a drive by means of which the member carrying the plate is driven downwards through the tray except when both switches are operated, the control plate being flexible and being carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arm when the arm swings upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position. 

1. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, comprising means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes, means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays, a control plate which is arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level, and means for stopping the conveyor system while each empty tray is being replaced by a full tray while a column of cigarettes remains thereon thus reducing the falling distance for the cigarettes of the full tray, the conveyor system being arranged to carry the cigarettes from the trays to a reservoir which has an outlet through which cigarettes are discharged from the reservoir.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the reservoir is mounted above a cigarette packing machine and in which the outlet from the reservoir leads down into the hopper of the packing machine.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the reservoir includes a sensing device by which the conveyor system is stopped when the volume of cigarettes in the reservoir reaches a predetermined maximum level and by which the packing machine is stopped when the volume of cigarettes in the reservoir reaches a predetermined minimum level.
 4. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, comprising means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes, means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays, and a control plate arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level, the control plate having at each end a switch which is operated when the corresponding end of the plate moves upwards relative to a support member which carries the plate downwards through the trays, the switches being included in a circuit controlling a drive by means of which the member carrying the plate is driven downwards through the tray except when both switches are operated.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the support member is driven downwards through the tray by means of one or more screw-threaded members.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the control plate is flexile and is carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arM when the arm swings upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which upward movement of each arm about its pivot is resisted by a spring.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the support member carrying the plate is itself carried by an upright support along which it can move and which is pivoted about a horizontal axis to enable the control plate to be moved into and out of a tray.
 9. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, comprising means for inverting successive trays containing batches of cigarettes over a discharge position, conveyor means for carrying cigarettes away from the discharge position, a plate arranged to travel downwards through the tray at the discharge position, means to insert the plate into the inverted tray above the top surface of the batch of cigarettes in a substantially full tray and to remove the plate from a substantially empty tray, sensing means to sense whenever the top surface of the batch departs from a substantially flat and level surface as the cigarettes are carried away by the conveyor means, and driving means responsive to the sensing means for driving the plate through the tray and into contact with the top surface of the batch of cigarettes to restore the top surface of the batch to a flat and horizontal contour.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the plate is carried by a support member, and in which the sensing means comprises a switch at each end of the plate which is operated when the corresponding end of the plate moves upwards relative to the support member, the switches being included in a circuit controlling the driving means.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the plate is flexible and is carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arm when the arm springs upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the support member is carried by an upright support along which it can move and which is pivoted about a horizontal axis parallel to the length of the plate to enable the plate to be inserted into and withdrawn from the tray.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the upright support is threaded and cooperates with the support member so that rotation of the upright support in one sense causes the plate to be driven downwards through the tray and rotation in the other sense causes the plate to be driven upwards.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a reservoir towards which the cigarettes are carried by the conveyor means, means for continuously withdrawing cigarettes from the region of the reservoir, and means to stop the conveyor means while a new batch of cigarettes is being brought into position on top of the cigarettes remaining from the previous batch.
 15. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, comprising means to invert over a conveyor system successive trays filled with cigarettes, means for driving the conveyor system so that it carries away cigarettes from successive trays, towards a reservoir associated with an outlet through which cigarettes are continuously discharged, a control plate which is arranged to move downwards through each tray in turn to maintain the upper surface of the cigarettes in the tray substantially level, means for stopping the conveyor system while each empty tray is being replaced by a full tray while a column of cigarettes remains thereon thus reducing the falling distance for the cigarettes of the full tray, and means for deliverying a continuous flow of cigarettes from the region of the reservoir; the said flow through said outlet being received from the reservoir while the conveyor system is stationary.
 16. Apparatus for feeding cigarettes, or similar rod-like articles, comprising sPaced vertical walls for guiding successive batches of cigarettes downwards towards cigarette withdrawal means, and a horizontal control plate extending between the vertical walls for contacting the upper surface of each batch of cigarettes to keep the upper surface substantially flat and horizontal while the batch is moving downwards between the vertical walls, the control plate having at each end a switch which is operated when the corresponding end of the plate moves upwards relative to a support member which carries the plate downwards between the vertical walls, the switches being included in a circuit controlling a drive by means of which the member carrying the plate is driven downwards through the tray except when both switches are operated, the control plate being flexible and being carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate and are independently pivoted to the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate being operated by the corresponding arm when the arm swings upwards about its pivot to a predetermined position. 